return of the
English people, whom he wished to impress.

He succeeded far above his expectations, for that night, when back at
his old home, Frank said merrily:

"Why, it don't fit him half so well as it did poor old Sadi."

"No," assented Ned. "But--dead! how horrible!"

"Yes; one of his own men killed him, they say, for every one hated him
except me."

"And you liked him?"

"No, I don't think I liked him," said Frank, taking up the kris Hamet
had replaced in his hands; and then, with a shudder, hanging it upon the
wall; "but he was always very kind to me."

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.

TIM PROVES HIMSELF A DRISCOL.

But for the presence of two strange prahus and their enormous crews, who
seemed more than could be packed in the long swift vessels, it seemed
impossible to believe in the great change that had taken place.

For the Resident, the doctor, the Greigs, and Murray were back in their
houses, where the new rajah's people were constantly showing them tokens
of their master's good-will. The people of the campong were all _en
fete_, and the place was given up to rejoicings as they began to realise
that new days were in prospect, and a man might call his life his own.

And not the least puzzled of the occupants of the place was Tim, who
suddenly came confidentially to the boys as they sauntered back into the
garden.

"Masther Frank," he said, "will ye have the goodness to pinch me arm?"

"Certainly, Tim," cried the boy.

"Aisy lad, aisy. Don't take the pace out. Thank ye; it's all right. I
am wide awake."

"Of course you are."

"Oh, but I didn't know. I thought perhaps the masther's rat poison was
still on me strong."

"Go along; it was the wine!"

Tim's eyes twinkled, and just then he heard himself called, and hurried
in.

"It is a bit of a puzzle, Ned, isn't it?" said Frank. "I could hardly
believe it at first. Hallo! What now?"

A party of the rajah's officers were at the gate to summon the doctor
and Resident, with Murray and the boys, to an audience, both these
gentlemen being at the doctor's house.

His highness received them with a great display of genuine, manly
dignity, and with a showy retinue about him. He then spoke to his
visitors in the Malay tongue, the Resident translating as of old, and
bade them welcome to his court, assuring them of his friendship and of
that of his people as long as they would stay.

He was thanked, but there was considerable hesitation in